"We're Suicidal Tendencies, and we charge $20 a show!"

Oh and Poison Idea isn't that worth it. I saw them a few years back with Lower Class Brats (yuck) and it was nothing special.

 

First of all, i wouldnt do the same, so to say we ALL would is pretty ignorant.

Second, i can name 5 bands right now that are almost as old as Amebix and who charge shit to see them (unless they are apart of a festival, even still the festivals these guys play at may cost as much as 30 bucks, but its like 10-20 bands. I.E.-Crust Fest) AND WHO STILL HOLD ONTO IDEALS.. DROPDEAD (20 years going), OI POLLOI (20 plus years going), MDC (20 years plus going), Resistant Culture (ex-members of terrorizer who have band members who have been going for at least 15 years), etc. etc.

Third, downloading music has nothing to do with how expensive shows are, they are mostly charged like that based on the fuckin venue owners first off, and bands like Amebix would make a killing off their merch, they dont need to fucking charge 30 dollars a ticket, or even allow it.

It sucks that in Australia shows are 45 to 75 dollars. Is your average wage higher than this country or something? Idk, if i ever moved there i guess id never be seeing bands that charge that much.

 

Nope average wage here is not particularly high and cost of living is quite low compared with places like the US and Britain.
We do tend to pay high tax on certain things like books, electrical and white goods.
Even though the Oz dollar is now more or less on parity with the US dollar it has not cheapened anything like electrical goods, that are made in China, Japan, Malaysia because it is basically the US dollar that is crumbling and the Oz dollar is staying more or less stationary relative to those other currencies.

The only thing that seems to justify the price is the distance that bands have to come. However, I have friends in New Zealand and when they do get some of the more famous international acts (which is not often) they don't pay as much as us and it's futher to travel.

It's possibly something to do with the promoters trying to skim massive profits off the punters.

 

Fair enough. I accept that I am whinging about how expensive the shows are here in Oz.

 

Every time one of us brings up something that makes us mad, were technically "whining". I mean i whine all the time. WHY DO I HAVE TO POOP SO MUCH, thats my latest rant, i poop entirely too much.

 

Shit out = Shit In, don't want to poop so much, don't eat so much, simple!!

 

i don't get how you are suprised that major label bands would charge so much for a show.

 

well, i'm glad you won't be seeing suicidal tendencies, as they suck.
but not being able to see poison idea bites a little i guess.
lawl at the existence of the "suicidals"

 

Maybe I'm playing devil's advocate here. But, contrary to popular belief, playing music and putting on shows is work. Many bands, who are notoriously lazy, hate touring for this reason. So, if someone is touring in a band to make a living, what's it to you? If than can do it, more power to them. The only reason I expect to get paid for a gig is because this endeavor has expenses that have to be met and I don't live with my parents. One of the hard truths to accept was articulated by a line in Man on the Moon, "This is show business. Show...Business...and without the business there's no show." There's nothing punk about starving or being unable to make the gig because the tank is empty.

High priced shows are usually the doing of the venue. Some of them, if they'll book you at all, will actually blackmail bands if they dare to play another venue not associated with the big promoter behind them. This has happened to a couple bands touring through Detroit who originally wanted to play a few little underground venues I know. The Majestic Theater basically told them if they did the DIY gig they'd be banned from playing at the Majestic or any associated clubs again. These promoters are like the fucking mafia sometimes.

Ian Mackaye's explanation as to why they chose a maximum $5/show was because that was the price of a movie ticket...30 fucking years ago. Movies are a little more expensive now. That's why I go less often. But, using that criteria as a guideline is a good way to set the door price, depending on the distance needed to travel. Gas prices aren't cheap either.

So, I guess my bottom line is if the show is too expensive...don't go. And don't bitch. Unless you've done it yourself, you don't know what you're whining about.

 

Well we have done it ourselves for over 30 fucking years oh self-righteous one and I haven't lived with my parents since I was 13...so yeah fuck those promoters and fuck the Majestic theaters of this world. Its in the hands of the bands not the asshole leeches of this world, if you can feed the band and put gas enough to make the next gig it's enough....To build your band on the shoulders of DIY then move on to the corporate world is bullshit and we will call bullshit every time, whether you deem it as 'bitching' or not. And unless you've stuck to your guns on this subject for as long as many of us have, then you don't know what you're whining about.

 

I've looked around this site a little and there is scant DIY resources here. WTF? Mostly bellyaching about corporate sellouts without offering alternatives. Traffic seems a little slow as well. Maybe cuz the weather is warming up.

Here are some useful posts on another board. Enjoy!

chondriticsound.com/forum/index.php

chondriticsound.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=2

And here are DIY videos:
www.bestdiyvideos.info/

 

Probably because, like you, nobody thinks to put all the resources in one place and they are buried in topics called
"We're Suicidal Tendencies, and we charge $20 a show!" so instead of coming here and pontificating from on high why don't you start a DIY topic for resources.....?